Mechanical-electrical sound reproducer



Aug. I4, G- COURCY ETAL modifiers.

Patented* Aug. 14, 1945 MECHANICAL-ELECTRICAL SOUND REPBOD'UCER Georges Courcy, Le Peoq, and Marcel Paul Durand, St.-Germainen-Laye, France; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application August 14, 1942, Serial No. 454,871 In France October 24, 1941 2 Claims.

The invention relates to a mechanical-electrical sound reproducer for phonographs.

For said machines use is generally made of magnet or crystal sound reproducers (known as plclr.ups") the disadvantages of which, as re.

gards weightV and fragility, are known, and the sound-giving eciency of which becomes weaker with use.

'Said disadvantages are avoided in the sound reproducer which forms the subject matter ofthe invention which is essentially characterized by the fact that the vibrations of its needle (or sapphire point) act, through the moving component which supports it, on one or more potential modiiers each constituted by a ilexible metal blade or spiral the pressure of which, separately adjustable for each modifier, causes a more or less-extensive contact on a conducting surface; each modifier being traversed by an exciting current which is thus modulated by the vibrations of the moving component, which exciting current may be provided by a cell, an accumulator or rectified current while the modulated current may then be transformed so as to be sent to the ampliiier. I

It is therefore the mechanical vibrations of the needle or of the sapphire point caused by its friction in the grooves registered on the disk or cylinder of the talking machine which are here directly utilized' for the purpose of acting on the potential modifier or modiers.

It will be readily understood that the trepidations of the apparatus as a whole thus have no eiect on sound production and that the sound is modulated solely by the Vibrations of the mving component.

'Ihe attached figuresshow non-restrictive examples of forms of embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 is a sectional view of a reproducer the moving component of which is constituted by av diaphragm or blade capable of ilexing. Figures 2 to 4 are views of reproducers in which the moving component. which is itself rigid, is articulated about knife-edges: `Figure 2 is an embodiment including a single modifier, Figure is an embodiment with two opposed modiers, Figure 4 is an embodiment with four opposed and balanced Figure. 5 is a variant oi Figure 4 in which the moving component is not articulated about knife-edges but merely held by the exible spirals -oi the modifiers.

In said gures the same numerals indicate ,the

. same components: I and 2 are the two portions` oi' the housing made of an insulating substance assembled by bolts 3; 5 is the needle which is rendered solid with moving component 6 by (Cl. HSL-100.41)

means of binding screw 1; 8 are capsules of a resistant conducting substance such as agglomerated carbon, 9 are conical metal spirals the contacting surface of which, with 8, varies with the oscillating of 6 and on each of which the pressure can be adjusted by a cap I0 screwed into the housing.

In the example in Figure 1 the moving component is constituted by a exible blade or diaphragm squeezed between the two portions of the housing; in Figures 2 to 4 the moving component is solid and articulated about knife-edges II and I2 which are integral with thetwo portions of the housing; in Figure 5 the solid moving component is held by the exible spirals of the modilers.

The current to be modulated is led, on the one hand, to the moving component by wire I3 and, on the other hand, by wire I4 to cap I which is assumed to be conducting, both said components thus being in contact by-jmeans of the spiral 9 and capsule 8 forming a resistance. In the case of Figure 3, a third wire I5 connects the second cap I0 to a compensated mounting (push-pull). In the case oiV Figures 4 and 5, wire I4 leads to two caps I 0 diametrically opposed with respect to the centre of oscillationv of 6 whereas Wire I5 leads to the other two caps I0.

'I'he number of modiers subjected to the action of the same moving componentis in nowise limited to those of the examples described herein above and it will be readily understood, without it being necessary to represent them, that said arrangements can be multiplied or arranged in a. different manner without in any way departing 'from the' characteristics of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. A mechanical electrical soundv reproducer for phonographs comprising a casing formed oi' two blocks of insulating material secured together and forming an opening between them, a stylus holder extending into said opening and a pluralityA sule.

GEORGES COURCY.

PAUL DURAND. 

